Ask Marilyn | Parade.com

Sunday's Column - July 5, 2009

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The space shuttle is shot into flight with explosive force, hurtles through the atmosphere spewing flames, orbits the planet, braves frying from friction on the way back down—and yet it can’t land in...

Love or Freedom

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Clint LeNoir of Auburn, Alabama, writes: Marilyn: A reader once asked which was more important, love or freedom. Could you repeat your response to this question? Marilyn responds: I wrote,...

Anonymous Sources

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Tom Zahn from Saint Peter, Minnesota, writes: Marilyn: I saw it again the other day: "The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information."...

Relaxation is Expensive

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

John Winston Jaculan (Cebu City, Philippines) writes: Marilyn: If you were to choose between a job that is high-paying but stressful, and one that pays only a meager salary but is relaxed,...

Sunday's Column - June 28, 2009

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Does a swimmer with big feet have an advantage? Wouldn’t larger feet displace more water for faster propulsion? —K. Setliff, Riverbank, Calif. Bigger, flatter feet are an advantage for swimmers....

As Uninspiring As You Get

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Bob Muller of Milford, New Jersey, writes: Marilyn: In your column, a reader asked what several numbers had in common. (June 7, 2009) Your Roman numeral answer is, of course, correct. But...

Blame Pythagoras for String Theory

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Loren Booda of Arlington, Virginia, writes: Marilyn: The first application of mathematics to physics was musical in nature. (May 10, 2009) Pythagoras, famous for the theory that bears his name, also...

Yawning, Sneezing, Hiccuping Sleepers?

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Donn Barber of Sullivan, Illinois, writes: Marilyn: Why do we not yawn, cough, sneeze, hiccup, or belch during sleep? Marilyn responds: We are much less aware of the slight discomfort that...

Piercing Sirens Are Damaging

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

John Stratton of Baltimore, Maryland, writes: Marilyn: Are the sirens of ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks harmful to our ears if the vehicles pass right by us as we're standing by the side...

Sunday's Column - June 21, 2009

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

When the Earth was new, did the oceans have freshwater? —Robert Oshust, Bayonne, N.J. Yes, virtually. All water—even pure rainwater—contains chemicals called “salts.” Freshwater, though, tastes...

To Medicate or Not?

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Geena Harriman of Houston, Texas, writes: Marilyn: I was shocked to read what you wrote about taking fever-reducing medication. (June 7, 2009) I had never thought about the subject that way before....

Locking Your Car Doors

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Richard Alexander of Grand Rapids, Michigan, writes: Marilyn: Your conclusion about locking your car doors is correct, but one of your assertions is wrong. (June 7, 2009) Locking a car door only...

Banks and Brokerages

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

K. Key of Moreno Valley, California, writes: Marilyn: You published a letter from a woman who deposited $200,000 into a savings account at a bank and then had an investment counselor at that bank...

Your Musical Education

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Scott Robertson of Carlsbad, California, writes: Marilyn: I was reading your column, and your answer about the validity of evidence to support the claim that playing music can help children learn...

Sunday's Column - June 14, 2009

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

What happens in our brains to make us feel sleepy? —Jay Averill, Roseville, Calif. Research shows that a chemical called adenosine builds up in the brain while we’re awake, making us feel drowsy....

Audiotapes and Hissy Fits

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Tina Shaycort in Melissa, Texas, writes: Marilyn: I agree: Analog recordings do deteriorate every time they're played. (April 26, 2009) My family has an audio cassette of country music that we...

Bring Your Own Juice

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Leland Herder of Colorado Springs, Colorado, writes: Marilyn: I think that your response to the letter-writer who asked why fruit tastes better when it's ripe may explain why fruit ripens, but it...

Music and Math Skills

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Brian Doepke of Fort Wayne, Indiana, writes: Marilyn: You wrote that there is no solid evidence that playing a musical instrument will help a youngster with his or her math. (May 10, 2009) This is...

Pizza Puzzle or Rocket Science

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Winston T. Hooker of Cary, North Carolina, writes: Marilyn: I love math riddles, and I solved the pizza puzzle this way. (May 3, 2009) I figured that to get the maximum number of pieces, I would...

Sunday's Column - June 7, 2009

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

When I get in my car, I lock the doors out of habit. But am I really safer this way? Locked doors stop intruders, but they also slow emergency help in the event of an accident. Which should concern me...

Music and Math

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Glenn Rutz of Elmhurst, Illinois, writes: Marilyn: A reader asked whether studying music helps children with math skills. (May 10, 2009) I agree with your answer (no solid evidence exists), but I...

Burning the Flag Properly

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

David Warren, Chaplain at the Hannan-Colvin American Legion Post in Hudson, Michigan, writes: Marilyn: You answered a question about disposing of an unserviceable American flag. (May 3, 2009) Your...

Deals With Prosecutors

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Dan Gruen of Newton, Massachusetts, writes: Marilyn: Another difference between the deals a prosecutor makes and bribery is that the deals are not hidden. (May 3, 2009) They are exposed in Court...

Armchair Time Traveler

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Dee Forzi of Murrieta, California, writes: Marilyn: Online (April 27, 2009), you encouraged us to look through old photographs of happy events we experienced. You asked: "Who knows what other happy...

Sunday's Column - May 31, 2009

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

I'd like some perspective on global warming. Have sea levels ever been as high as they are now? —J. Kolasinski, Columbus, Ohio Yes, roughly 35,000 years ago. A few thousand years later, sea levels...

Analog vs. Digital Round #3

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Peter Aczel of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, writes: Marilyn: You are right nearly all the time, but on the subject of analog versus digital audio, you are wrong. (April 26, 2009) The difference...

Analog vs. Digital Round #2

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Lee Moldaver of Santa Barbara, California, writes: Marilyn: Read your columns faithfully. Always educational. Agree with your answers 95% of the time. But not your response to the question about...

Analog vs. Digital Round #1

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Charles Walter of Evansville, Indiana, writes: Marilyn: You stated that the difference between analog and digital sound reproduction can be heard only under the best conditions, i.e., with a new...

Throwing Back the Big Ones

Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Russell Stringer of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, writes: Marilyn: I am a fisherman, mostly bass but also spotted sea trout (speckled trout). I have been throwing back the larger fish for years, as have...